[Provided by the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry]
[Provided by the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry]

Visitors will be able to see and experience firsthand how companies and institutions are tackling social challenges — from using AI and advanced technology to improve care services and information accessibility for people with disabilities, to connecting young people's social innovation experience with employment opportunities.

The Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry announced it will hold the third Korea Social Value Festa at Hall A of COEX in Seoul on Sept. 21 and 22, with advance visitor registration opening Monday. This year's event will be held under the theme "Beyond Thinking to Action, Beyond Problems to Solutions."

The number of participating organizations will grow from 344 last year to more than 400 this year. The chamber expects attendance to rise from roughly 13,000 last year to about 15,000. A survey of last year's visitors found that 41.3 percent of respondents were ordinary citizens, with those in their 20s and 30s accounting for 62.1 percent.

The exhibition floor will be divided into four themed zones — "Cooperation," "Innovation and Environment," "Region" and "Society" — bringing together case studies on regional balanced development, youth employment, education, the environment and other social issues.

Participating companies will present solutions drawing on their own technologies and business capabilities. SK Hynix will offer an interactive program on "sustainable coexistence between humans and AI," while SK Telecom will introduce its "AI for Everyone" initiative spanning care services and talent development. Posco Group will showcase a circular-resource project that recycles byproducts from steel production, and S-Oil will present its program supporting the growth of social enterprises in the environmental sector.

Participation from the gaming and culture industries has also expanded. Smilegate Hope Studio will present cases of using games to address social problems, and the NC Culture Foundation will introduce an AI-based augmentative and alternative communication project for people who have difficulty communicating due to disabilities.

Programs targeting regional decline and youth issues are also on the agenda. The Korea Tourism Organization will propose a workcation program as a response to regional depopulation, and Hyundai Marine & Fire Insurance will unveil "Project Trailmark," which records young people's social innovation experiences as competency data and connects them to the job market.

This year's event significantly expands interactive programming for visitors. Over the two days, more than 40 sessions and 20 special programs will run across the main stage, an independent stage and conference rooms. Highlights include a social value film festival hosted by film critic Ju Seong-cheol, a talk show featuring players from esports team T1, and docent and stamp tours of key exhibitions.

A "SOVAC Market" will let visitors purchase products carrying social messages — including eco-friendly packaging, fair-trade goods, recycled materials and items made by workers with disabilities — alongside a sustainable food and beverage zone. The aim is to move beyond simply presenting social problem-solving cases and draw ordinary citizens into active participation through consumption and hands-on experience.

"Solving social problems is no longer the exclusive domain of certain companies or experts — it is an area where any citizen can take part," said Jo Yeong-jun, head of the chamber's Sustainable Management Institute. "This year's festa is designed so that visitors don't stop at recognizing problems, but become part of the solution through experience, consumption and participation."

Advance registration runs from Monday through Sept. 18 on the official website. Pre-registered visitors can enter via QR code without waiting in a separate line. Admission is free.


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